Kodama (こだま, "Echo") is one of the three train services running on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen lines.

Stopping at every station, the Kodama is the slowest Shinkansen service for trips between major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.

Travelers between major cities generally take the Nozomi or Hikari services, which make fewer stops, although the Nozomi requires paying a supplement under the Japan Rail Pass while the Kodama does not,[2] making these services an affordable alternative.

The newest shinkansen trainset, the N700, is currently used on some early morning and late night Kodama runs between Kokura and Hakata stations in Kyushu.

In order from east to west, this comprises Tōkyō, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Mikawa-Anjō, Nagoya, Gifu-Hashima, Maibara, Kyoto, Shin-Ōsaka, Shin-Kōbe, Nishi-Akashi, Himeji, Aioi, Okayama, Shin-Kurashiki, Fukuyama, Shin-Onomichi, Mihara, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Shin-Shimonoseki, Asa, Kokura, and Hakata.

[citation needed] A narrow gauge world speed record of 163 km/h was established by a 151 series Kodama trainset on 31 July 1959.

[citation needed] The shinkansen Kodama services began on 1 October 1964, operating between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.